Bad day at Haughley & Wetherden - unless you're a Green

I have not reported on the result of the Haughley & Wetherden by-election result until now, but perhaps it is time that I did. First, the result;

Rachel Eburne (Green) - 444 votes
Samantha Powell (Conservative) - 176 votes
Chris Vecchi (Liberal Democrat) - 51 votes
David Hill (Labour) - 32 votes
Christopher Streatfield (UKIP) - 25 votes

So, an overwhelming win for the Greens, with their candidate benefiting from two key factors, firstly that she was the only candidate living in the ward, second that the successful county candidate last year, Andrew Stringer, has worked hard to represent residents. The locals clearly liked both things.

From our perspective, the unavailability of our popular candidate from 2007, and the success of the Greens at county level meant that we were unable to gain any traction against a classic ALDC-style campaign. It demonstrates beyond doubt that you can't drop in a candidate late in the day and win, regardless of how many leaflets you deliver. There has to be existing, ongoing activity, unless you're very lucky.

Congratulations go to Rachel and her team, as the Green Group on Mid Suffolk District Council now numbers three (four, if you include the Independent who represents Bacton and Old Newton...). The new balance on the Council is;

Conservatives - 21
Liberal Democrats - 10
Greens - 3
Suffolk Together - 2
Independents - 4

It looks closer than it is, as three of the Independents sit with the Conservatives, but it does ratchet up the pressure on them a little. I'm guessing that the Greens will have their eyes of Wetheringsett next, another Conservative held seat...